The Conservation Center is dedicated to the long-term preservation of artworks and heirlooms, and proudly provides the highest standard of care to ensure the longevity of your collection. Join CEO Heather Becker for a tour of the facility, and explore the breadth of our expertise.

The Conservation Center is the largest and most comprehensive private art conservation laboratory in the country. With 40 years of experience, The Center is a leader in the field of art preservation, evolving new treatments and methods to adapt to the rapidly changing art world. We have cared for fine art from some of the country’s most prestigious private collections, museums, galleries, insurance companies, and corporations. Our conservators are expertly trained in the treatment of paintings, works of art on paper, photographs, textiles, murals, antique and fine furniture, rare books, frames and gilding, objects, and sculpture.  

Founded in 1983, The Center grew from a handful of painting conservators to 30 staff members with a wide range of specializations. In 2012, The Conservation Center moved from Chicago’s River North neighborhood to its new home in the Kinzie Industrial Corridor in West Town. With the help of Studio Gang Architects, we revitalized a late 19th-century warehouse, previously used to store gold, into a state-of-the-art conservation laboratory.  

The treatments executed in The Conservation Center’s laboratory are in compliance with the American Institute for Conservation Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice. When conserving a piece, our goal is to preserve the artist’s original intent by using non-invasive and reversible techniques and utilizing archival-grade materials, thus forming our treatment philosophy: less is more.

The Conservation Center strives to uphold the greatest standard of care when preserving and handling your artwork. Please take a look at the services we offer, or contact us for more information. We look forward to assisting with your next project. 

A very special acknowledgment to Barry Bauman (1948 - 2022), the visionary who founded The Chicago Conservation Center in 1983. In addition, the unwavering commitment of Marshall Field V is forever appreciated by Heather Becker, the staff, and our clients. Marshall's ongoing support has allowed The Center to offer over three decades of service in saving and preserving rare works of art, cultural artifacts, and personal heirlooms for future generations to enjoy and learn from.

We would also like to thank our dedicated Advisory Board members who continue to give their time and knowledge to the growth of this company. They each contribute their unique background and expertise to help The Center grow and develop over time.

We would also like to thank our staff over the last 39 years. The Center reflects on the dedication and talent of our team on an ongoing basis. The years of striving for perfection in every treatment, respect for the art and the artist’s intent, and the constant commitment to learning and sharing your knowledge are core tenants of our team. We strive to create a company culture that fosters cross-pollination of knowledge as the organization continues to produce the best possible treatment with every piece that travels through our facility.